Awarded contract

Strategic Marketing and Communications

Details

Supplier(s)
Frame, WE ARE SEVENTHREE LTD
Value
800,000
Topic
Advertising and marketing services
Published
4 November 2025

Tender description

The University of Edinburgh’s Accommodation, Catering & Events (ACE) department is seeking to establish a contract for its commercial marketing and communications services. This initiative originally aimed to appoint external agencies across three key lots: Paid Advertising and Digital Strategy, Public Relations and Branding & Design, however the former was cancelled during the tender process. By securing expert partners, ACE will enhance brand visibility, streamline communications, and drive commercial success across its portfolio, including The University’s year-round hotels, summer accommodation, highland lodges, event services, catering outlets and hospitality services. Lot 2: Public Relations This lot encompasses the development and execution of public relations strategies tailored to the tourism and hospitality sector, with a focus on media outreach, brand partnerships, community engagement, and creating strong relationships with local, national, and international media. The goal is to raise the University’s profile within the commercial hospitality space, boost its reputation, and drive engagement from key audiences, including potential guests and industry stakeholders. Lot 3: Branding and Design This lot will focus on the creation, development, and execution of the University’s commercial branding and design materials to ensure a consistent and impactful visual identity across all commercial initiatives. Lot 1: Paid Digital Advertising and Digital Strategy The appointed supplier will be responsible for planning, buying, and optimising paid social media/Google campaigns across relevant platforms to drive engagement, brand awareness, and conversions for Accommodation, Catering and Events.. This lot was cancelled during the tender process and no award was made.

Timeline

  1. Completed: Award date31 October 2025
  2. Completed: Award published4 November 2025
    Current notice

About the buyer

University of Edinburgh buys as a higher education institution, through its own Procurement function. Larger tenders are advertised on Public Contract Scotland, via the PCS-T e-tendering platform. Suppliers must register separately on both systems before bidding. Much of this procurement flows through framework agreements with APUC, Scotland Excel and the Crown Commercial Service. Prior information notices invite market engagement from suppliers ahead of larger tenders. The Strategic Procurement team leads regulated sourcing, while Operational Procurement manages day-to-day purchase orders. A Procurement Support team handles reporting, data analysis and training across the function.

Education procurement reached £47.4bn in 2024/25, the fourth-largest public sector budget.

Over the past 5 years, most of University of Edinburgh's contract awards have been in laboratory and precision equipment, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals and software and information systems.

Relevant CPV codes

  • 79340000 · Advertising and marketing services
  • 79341000 · Advertising services
  • 79341100 · Advertising consultancy services
  • 79341200 · Advertising management services
  • 79341400 · Advertising campaign services
  • 79342000 · Marketing services
  • 79416000 · Public relations services
  • 79416100 · Public relations management services
  • 79416200 · Public relations consultancy services

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